Local area

VBSD FAC's mission is to promote arts education for the students of the Van Buren School District by providing a safe, technically proficient venue. It shall also serve as a resource for the community at large and contribute tot he cultural vitality of the city of Van Buren and its surrounding areas.

Take a train ride through history on the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad! Starting from the historic Frisco depot in downtown Van Buren, your route winds its way through the scenic Ozark Mountains toward Winslow and then back to Van Buren--about a 3 to 4 hour journey. But be careful! There are train robbers in these hills!

Stock car racing every Saturday night at 7:30! Visit their website for details, www.crawfordcountyspeedway.net.

Devil's Den State Park is nestled deep in Lee Creek Valley, a picturesque setting in northwest Arkansas's Ozarks Mountains. Hiking, backpacking, and mountain bike trails lead to backcountry areas in the park and the surrounding Ozark National Forest. The park also offers a store,17 fully-equipped cabins and 143 camp sites nestled in the rugged beauty of the wooded mountains. A park cafe and swimming pool overlook the lake and are open all summer.

Perched atop a bluff overlooking the Arkansas River, the Drennen-Scott House was built in Antebellum Arkansas by one of Van Buren's pioneer families.

Whether you are looking for fine antique furnishings for your home or functional to funky collectables, chances are you will find it in downtown Van Buren. Guns, knives, dolls, memorabilia, fine imports, locally handmade arts and crafts, and distinctively different eateries and shops can all be found within a half-mile walk down Main Street.

Quaint and beautifully restored, downtown Van Buren looks much as it did almost a century ago. Noted for its Victorian architecture, Main Street is anchored on the east by the old Frisco Depot (now the historic district's visitor's center) and on the west by the King Opera House and the Crawford County Courthouse. Main Street's charm has attracted the attention of Hollywood producers and has served as a major setting for motion pictures such as "The Blue and the Grey" and "Biloxi Blues."

The King Opera House is a quaint performance hall that anchors the western end of Van Buren's Main Street. Built in the late 1800s, this working theatre has undergone extensive renovations over the last three decades while still keeping true to its Old West roots. Local legend even tells of the ghost of a former young stage actor who still haunts the Opera House's performances.

The Arkansas River is the USA's sixth longest river and is among the 50 longest in the entire world. The river separates Van Buren and Fort Smith and is spanned by two major bridges connecting the twin cities. Visitors to the area can view or access the river by visiting Meyer and Lee Creek Parks at the end of Main Street in Van Buren, Fort Smith Park opposite Van Buren along Clayton Expressway, or Riverfront Park and the Fort Smith Historic District farther to the south.

Starting at its southwestern terminus at Lake Fort Smith State Park approximately 23 miles northeast of Van Buren, the Ozark Highlands Trail includes 218 miles of hiking trails throughout the rugged Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas. For more information, see www.ozarkhighlandstrail.com.

State park and campgrounds with beautiful overlook of the scenic Ozark Mountains.

Located at the western end of downtown Van Buren's Main Street is this seat of government for Crawford County. With its earliest section built in 1842, this is the oldest functioning county court house west of the Mississippi River. The structure is topped with a huge working Seth Thomas clock. On its grounds stands an old log school house, one of the oldest surviving buildings in Arkansas, in which Albert Pike of Masonic fame taught school in 1833.

Located along the riverfront in downtown Fort Smith, the historic district includes a restoration of Judge Isaac Parker's courtroom, jail, and gallows. Nicknamed "The Hanging Judge," Parker was the law over Indian Territory from the 1870s through the 1890s. Begin your visit to the rough and tumble days of the Old West with a stop at your friendly neighborhood bordello--Miss Laura's Social Club. A famous brothel from 1898-1910, Miss Laura's is now the Historic District's Visitor's Center.

Fayetteville, one hour north, is home to the world-famous University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Whether it is football in Reynolds Razorback Stadium, basketball in Bud Walton Arena, baseball in Baum Stadium, or a track meet at John McDonald Field, Razorback sports are always among the finest in the Southeastern Conference and the entire NCAA. Over the years, the Hogs have won over 40 national championships in various sports. For schedules or ticket information, visit www.arkansasrazorbacks.com.

This cabin, built in the 1829, was the Indian Territory home to Sequoyah (or George Guess, his English name). Sequoyah was an influential native American best known as the inventor of the Cherokee alphabet.